The bookmark that has been re-listed has hit £82, where will it all end. I blame that Banksy character .

Void.

;D

All POW hype IMO. Two months ago dran showed in Barcelona and half the work remained unsold, with originall works from starting at £100 +. Fast forward 2 months and the remaining work has its price bumped by 40% and everyone cant get enough of it and are hailing Dran as the next star.


I presume that everyone here thats such huge fans of his work and are now paying £300 + for u/s print, new about the previous show and the cheap works such a short time ago ?

I've never yet seen an artist that has not crashed and burned after this much hype this quickly.

I know a few people where after one, spotted this has just gone up

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dran-Learning-Fly-Black-White-Edition-100-/230566410151?pt=UK_art_prints_GL&hash=item35aed437a7#ht_500wt_1121

not mine by the way

Void

No offence intended otto, didn't know the B&W's were going for that much, hence my incredulity.

Now I'm dumbfounded the B&W's are so sought after ;D

ps been down the pub all afternoon and slightly half cut... which was to avoid spending money on an Icarus!

While I do not agree that all of this hysteria is due to hype, I do think we need to wait and see if Drans popularity continues. Regarding the so called hype what did POW do to warrant such an accusation other than put on a couple of exhibitions, (incidentally one of which also featured other artist work) and then allowed visitors to make up their own minds, I certainly can not remember anything from POW that I would consider hype (extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion). As for the Barcelona show, what could they have done any different, not to be accused of "hype" as has been suggested against POW, the only possible thing I could think of is is, that they didn't allow anybody in! Yes the Learning to Fly is the one that has really caught the imagination and the current hysteria can not continue for long at this pace, much of the current interest could be for potential investment rather than admiration for the work, but I do believe Dran will be a major artist for a very long time to come. For one he is very young and should he not blow it, he should develop and produce many other great pieces. Added to this anybody who did visit the Marks and Stencils exhibition could have seen that there was very much more to his work than a few cute cartoons produced on odd media (did anyone take a good look at some of the oil paintings?), in fact there was quite a bit that reminded me of the versatility of Banksy without trying to be a clone. As for the unsold chalks I believe this is more due to the price and that many people are not completely aware of it and that there are prints still available for posting rather than a complete lack of interest, wait for the first chalks to hit eBay (which many now use as their window to the outside world) and the rest will disappear very quickly.

Now if you really want an example of hype just take a look at Banksy, silly Jeremy Beadle / Ant and Dec type stunts that are really nothing to do with art, other than self promotion in the national press, also recent prints that IMO are very lazy and only produced to satisfy those who would buy anything as long as it had Banksy written on it, some people should take a good look and take note of the message in the Morons print! Unlike much of Banksys earlier work where is the message in CYW, other than the terrible way it was sold and some of the people who ended up with the print. I really would like to see Banksy return to producing prints of the quality of Grin Reaper etc.

Releasing the LTF with the book signing was also a masterstroke as after waiting in the snow to meet Dran and realising because of a 2 in 2 out policy it would be a longer wait not getting a print, it just made sense. Interestingly after a small chat a few people who were after a B&W changed their mind, swayed by the excitement of the few (like me) who were keeping warm in the glow of anticipation. Merry Christmas to all, especially the girl I stood behind who was picking up her chalks print at the same time.

Its about youth and gang culture, using dogs as status symbols or as methods of intimidation. Well thats my interpretation anyway

Now the one off the bay dissappeared... Suspicious

I don't know whether it's hype and whether he'll maintain this momentum. I'm with Gibbin and the others that I fear I may not get a future print release. I remain grateful that I bought three of his canvases when I did for I wouldn't have been able to afford one at M&S prices and I certainly wouldn't be able to afford one if the momentum persists. I consider myself very lucky to have the view in my living room that I do, though my wife was not overly impressed that three days after putting her new Laura Ashley wallpaper up, I returned home and hung two Dran's over it.

whilst the obvious nod to the use of dogs in gang culture and yobbo Britain is certainly there this piece for me is far more subtle.

The amalgamation of the dog by Banksy into a larger street piece symbolises that his choice of weapon,his modus operandi for commenting on modern society is art...and more specifically graffiti.

The fact that he in essence'chose his weapon' by ensnaring the style of a fellow artist and juxtaposing it into his piece is a touch of subtle genius...and the naming of the piece is not only a comment but an invitation for us all to do the same thing and choose our own mode of commentary..to ensnare it and utulise it to the best of our ability as Banksy surely did with this piece.